Flexible display panel and display apparatus including the flexible display panel

ABSTRACT

A flexible display panel includes a flexible substrate including a first region including a display region and having a curved display surface, and a plurality of non-display regions that is located outside the display region and including a second region located outside the first region and folded in a direction different from a display direction of the first region, and an encapsulation member for encapsulating the display region along the curved display surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/794,604, filed Feb. 19, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/936,341, filed Mar. 26, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No.10,578,897, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/367,151, filed Feb. 6, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,927,641, whichclaims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.10-2011-0065145, filed Jun. 30, 2011, the entire content of all of whichis incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to a flexibledisplay panel and a display apparatus including the flexible displaypanel.

2. Description of Related Art

Display apparatuses refer to apparatuses that display an image signal.Such display apparatuses include televisions (TVs), computer monitors,personal digital assistants (PDAs), and smart devices, which areincreasingly in demand, and which display an image corresponding to asignal input by an external device.

A flat panel display module with high image quality, such as an organiclight-emitting display panel, a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, aplasma display panel (PDP), or the like, is used in display apparatuses.

The flat panel display module includes a display region in which animage is displayed, and a non-display region in which various circuitsand wirings for supplying an image signal to the display region arelocated. In this regard, the non-display region is outside the displayregion on a same plane as that of the display region.

As demand for high image quality and various applications of displayapparatuses is recently increasing, the number of circuits and wiringslocated in the non-display region of the flat panel display module isalso increasing. Thus, the area of the non-display region has increased,which causes a reduction in the percentage in the flat panel display ofthe display region that is recognized by a user. Thus, a design ofdisplay apparatuses needs to be improved.

SUMMARY

One or more embodiments of the present invention provide a flexibledisplay panel that provides a user with an aesthetically pleasing designof a curved surface, and that significantly decreases the size ratio ofa non-display region to a display region recognized by a user, and adisplay apparatus including the flexible display panel.

According to an aspect of embodiments of the present invention, there isprovided a flexible display panel including a flexible substrateincluding a first region including a display region and having a curveddisplay surface, and a plurality of non-display regions that is locatedoutside the display region and including a second region located outsidethe first region and folded in a direction different from a displaydirection of the first region, and an encapsulation member forencapsulating the display region along the curved display surface.

The first region may have a constant curvature radius.

The first region may have a concave display surface.

The flexible display panel may further include a border region having acurvature radius and located between the first and second regions.

The curvature radius may have a constant value.

The curvature radius may be between 0.01 mm and 10 mm.

The border region may be convex.

The first region may extend in the border region.

The second region may extend in the border region.

The first region and the second region may extend in the border region.

The flexible substrate may further include a third region that extendsin the second region and is folded towards an inside of the firstregion.

The flexible display panel may further include a pad unit located in thethird region.

The flexible display panel may further include a barrier layer locatedbetween the flexible substrate and the display region.

The flexible display panel may further include a support unit formaintaining a shape of the flexible display panel.

The encapsulation member may be a flexible encapsulation thin layer.

The flexible display panel may further include a touch panel located onat least one side of the flexible substrate and the encapsulationmember, and an image of the display region may be displayed through thetouch panel.

The touch panel may include a flexible film that is foldable tocorrespond to a shape of the flexible display panel.

The touch panel may include a touch region located on the flexible filmand corresponding to the display region, and a wiring region locatedoutside the touch region.

According to another aspect of embodiments of the present invention,there is provided a flexible display panel including a display regionhaving a concave curved surface, and a non-display region locatedoutside the display region and folded in a direction different from adisplay direction of the display region, wherein an area ratio of anarea of the non-display region to an area of the display region visiblefrom a front of the display region when the non-display region is foldedis smaller than the area ratio visible from the front of the displayregion when the non-display region is not folded.

The display region may have a constant curvature radius.

A curved surface having a curvature radius may be located between thedisplay region and the non-display region.

The curved surface may be convex.

The display region may include an organic light-emitting device.

According to another aspect of embodiments of the present invention,there is provided a display apparatus including a flexible display panelincluding a display region having a concave curved surface, and anon-display region located outside the display region and folded in adirection different from a display direction of the display region,wherein an area ratio of an area of the non-display region to an area ofthe display region visible from a front of the display region when thenon-display region is folded is smaller than the area ratio visible fromthe front of the display region when the non-display region is notfolded, and a support member for maintaining a shape of the flexibledisplay panel.

The display apparatus may further include an encapsulation thin layerfor encapsulating the display region, a touch panel located on theencapsulation thin layer and including a touch region having a curvedsurface corresponding to the display region, and at least one organiclight-emitting device located in the display region.

The display apparatus may further include a transparent protectionwindow located on the touch panel and corresponding to curved shapes ofthe flexible display panel and the touch panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and aspects of embodiments of the presentinvention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplaryembodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a flexible display panelaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the relationship between a curvatureradius and the size of a display region;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible display panel of theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a display panel including aconcave display surface on which a non-display region is not folded, asa comparative example of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the display panel illustrated inFIG. 4, taken along the line V-V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the flexible display panelof the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 before non-display regions are folded;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an example of a display region ofthe embodiment shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a plane view of an example of non-display regions of theembodiment shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view illustrating an operation of manufacturingthe flexible display panel of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 illustrates the relationship between an inner curvature radiusof a border region and a width of non-display regions recognized by auser;

FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a flexible display panelaccording to a modified example of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible display panel-integratedtouch panel according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible display panel-integratedtouch panel before non-display regions of the flexible displaypanel-integrated touch panel of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12are folded;

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the flexible displaypanel-integrated touch panel of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13;and

FIGS. 15 and 16 are schematic cross-sectional views of an embodiment ofthe present invention in which the flexible display panel of theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 is combined with a support unit and ahousing of a display apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described more fullywith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplaryembodiments of the invention are shown.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a flexible display panel 100according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is across-sectional view of the relationship between a curvature radius andthe size of a display region, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view ofthe flexible display panel 100 of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1,taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, the flexible display panel 100 of the presentembodiment includes a display region D and non-display regions N1, N2,N3, and N4 outside the display region D. The non-display regions N1 andN3 that face each other across the display region D are located alongopposite sides of the display region, and are folded in a direction(rear sheet) opposite to a direction (front sheet) in which the displayregion D displays an image (e.g., a display direction).

The display region D is formed as a concave curved surface. The curvedsurface of the display region D may have a constant curvature radius(e.g., a predetermined constant curvature radius). For example, thecurved surface may be a portion of a cylinder.

When the display region D is formed as a concave curved surface, as inthe present embodiment, the same field of view can be obtained with asmaller area in comparison to a display region D that is formed as aplane.

Referring to FIG. 2, in a display panel having a view size of L₀ (e.g.,a view size having a length of L₀), when the display region D is formedas a concave curved surface that has a constant curvature radius R (anactual length of the curved surface is L_(c)), as in the presentembodiment, a length L₁ projected onto (e.g., a length L₁ of an imageprojected onto) a plane of the concave curved surface is smaller thanthe view size L₀ of the flat display panel. Thus, an area of the planeof the concave curved surface is smaller than the area of the flatdisplay panel while applying the same view size, and the size of thedisplay panel may be reduced. Reversely, the view size that is largerthan that of the display panel may be obtained with the same occupationarea.

For example, in the case of a smartphone that has the view size L₀ of4.5 inches, a demand for which has recently increased, a length L₁projected onto a plane of a concave curved surface that has a curvatureradius R of 600 mm may be 4.49 inches (in this case, θ is 10.9°). Asanother example, in the case of a smartphone that has the view size L₀of 4.5 inches, a length L₁ projected onto a plane of a concave curvedsurface that has a curvature radius R of 300 mm may be 4.47 inches (inthis case, θ is 21.8°). In other words, in the case of a smartphone thathas the view size L₀ of 4.5 inches, the curvature radius R of theconcave curved surface is adjustable in a range of about 100 mm to 700mm, thereby satisfying the same specification of view size with asmaller occupation area.

Referring to FIG. 3, because the non-display regions N1 and N3 arefolded in the direction (rear sheet) opposite to the direction (frontsheet) in which an image from the display region D is displayed, when auser sees the flexible display panel 100 from the front of the displayregion D, the user recognizes a width W₁ at which the non-displayregions N1 and N3 are folded, as a border on two or more sides of (e.g.,a border that surrounds upper and lower sides of) the display region D.

Because the width W₁ at which the non-display regions N1 and N3 arefolded becomes much smaller than an original width (e.g., see W₀ of FIG.5) before the non-display regions N1 and N3 are folded, the userrecognizes (e.g., perceives) that the border of the display region Dformed by the non-display regions N1 and N3 is significantly decreasedin size.

When there is no change in the respective areas of the display region Dmeasured before and after the non-display regions N1 and N3 are folded,the area ratio of the non-display regions N1 and N3 to the displayregion D recognized by the user is decreased, and thus, the effects ofrelatively enlarging the display region D may be realized.

Because a width of the display region D may be enlarged by the decreasedwidth (W₀-W₁) of the non-display regions N1 and N3 (e.g., a ratio of thearea the display region D to the area of the non-display regions N1 andN3 may be increased), when the flexible display panel 100 is applied toa display apparatus having the same specifications as that of theflexible display panel 100 (e.g., a display apparatus havingapproximately the same dimensions as the flexible display panel 100),the flexible display panel 100 may implement an enlarged image screen ascompared to other display panels.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a display panel 100′ includinga concave display surface in which the non-display regions N1, N2, N3,and N4 are not folded, as a comparative example of the display panel 100of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional viewof the display panel 100′ of FIG. 4, taken along the line V-V of FIG. 4.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the display panel 100′, in which thenon-display regions N1, N2, N3, and N4 are not folded, includes adisplay region D and non-display regions N1, N2, N3, and N4 that arelocated outside the display region D.

Because the non-display regions N1 and N3 are not folded, when the usersees the display panel 100′ from the front (front sheet) of the displayregion D, the user recognizes the original width W₀ of the non-displayregions N1 and N3 as a border that surrounds upper and lower sides ofthe display region D (e.g., a border that is located on both sides ofthe upper and lower sides of the display region D). Thus, a thickerborder of the display region D formed by the non-display regions N1 andN3 is recognized by the user, as compared to the flexible display panel100 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and described above.

When the total area of the display region D and the non-display regionsN1 and N3 of the flexible display panel 100 of the embodiment shown inFIG. 1 is the same as the total area of the display region D and thenon-display regions N1 and N3 of the display panel 100′ of FIG. 4, thearea ratio of the non-display regions N1 and N3 to the display region Dof the flexible display panel 100 of FIG. 1 perceived by the user isdecreased compared to that of the display panel 100′ of the comparativeexample, so that the effects of enlarging a display screen may be shown.

In the case of the display panel 100′ according to the comparativeexample, in order to reduce the area of the non-display regions N1 andN3, the number of various circuits or wirings located in the non-displayregions N1 and N3 has to be decreased, or line widths of circuits orwirings have to be decreased. However, because of demand for high imagequality and various applications of a display apparatus is increasing,there are limitations in reducing the number of circuits or wirings. Inaddition, there is a process difficulty in reducing line widths of thecircuits or wirings. However, in the flexible display panel 100 of theembodiment shown in FIG. 1, the area of the non-display regions N1 andN3 recognized by the user may be decreased without reducing the numberof circuits or wirings located in the non-display regions N1 and N3 andwithout reducing line widths of the circuits or wirings.

FIG. 6 is a schematic plane view of an example of a flexible displaypanel 100-B of an embodiment of the present invention before thenon-display regions N1 and N3 (e.g., N1 and N3 of the embodiment shownin FIG. 1) are folded, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an example ofa display region D of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is aplane view of an example of non-display regions N1, N2, N3, and N4 ofthe embodiment shown in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIGS. 6 through 8, the flexible display panel 100-B beforethe non-display regions N1 and N3 are folded includes a flexiblesubstrate 111, a barrier layer 112 located on the flexible substrate111, a display region D and non-display regions N1, N2, N3, and N4located on the barrier layer 112, and an encapsulation member 113.

The flexible substrate 111 may be formed of a plastic material havingexcellent heat-resistance and durability, such as polyethylene etherphthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polycarbonate, polyarylate,polyetherimide, polyethersulfone, polyimide, or the like. However, thepresent invention is not limited thereto, and the flexible substrate 111may be formed of various flexible materials.

The barrier layer 112 may be located on the flexible substrate 111. Thebarrier layer 112 may be formed of at least one of an inorganic layerand an organic layer. The barrier layer 112 prevents unnecessarycomponents from transmitting into the flexible substrate 111 and frompermeating into the display region D.

The display region D and the non-display regions N1, N2, N3, and N4outside the display region D may be located on the barrier layer 112.

An image corresponding to an image signal is displayed in the displayregion D, and various display devices, such as organic light-emittingdisplay devices, liquid crystal display (LCD) devices, electrophoresisdisplay devices, and the like may be located in the display region D. Inthe present embodiment, an organic light-emitting device 120 isdescribed. Various devices, such as thin film transistors (TFTs) andcapacitors for driving the devices, and the like may also be located inthe display region D.

Referring to FIG. 7, at least one organic light-emitting device 120(e.g., an organic light emitting diode) is located in the display regionD. The organic light-emitting device 120 includes a pixel electrode 121,an opposite electrode 123 that is a common layer (e.g., a commonelectrode), and an organic emission layer 122 between the pixelelectrode 121 and the opposite electrode 123. The pixel electrode 121 iselectrically coupled to a driving thin film transistor TFT1 located onthe flexible substrate 111. Although not shown in FIG. 6, the organiclight-emitting device 120 is electrically coupled to at least oneswitching thin film transistor and storage capacitor, thereby emittinglight from the display region D.

Light may be emitted from the organic emission layer 122 towards theflexible substrate 111 or the encapsulation member 113. In the presentembodiment, a top-emission type display device in which an image isdisplayed towards the encapsulation member 113 is described. However,the present invention is not limited thereto, and different embodimentsmay apply to a bottom-emission type display device in which an image isdisplayed towards the flexible substrate 111. In the case of thebottom-emission type display device, the non-display regions N1 and N3are folded in a direction opposite to a direction in which an image isdisplayed, that is, towards the encapsulation member 113.

Various circuits and wirings for supplying an image signal to thedisplay device located in the display region D may be located in thenon-display regions N1, N2, N3, and N4.

Referring to FIG. 8, an electrode power supply line 131 for supplyingpower to the opposite electrode 123, and a terminal portion 132 of theelectrode power supply line 131 are located in the non-display regionsN1, N2, N3, and N4.

A scan circuit unit 133 for transmitting a driving signal to the displayregion D and a terminal portion 134 of the scan circuit unit 133 arelocated (e.g., respectively located) in the non-display regions N2 andN3. A data circuit unit 135 for transmitting a data signal to thedisplay region D and a terminal portion 136 of the data circuit unit 135are located (e.g., respectively located) in the non-display regions N4and N3. A driving power wiring unit 137 for supplying driving power tothe display region D and a terminal portion 138 of the driving powerwiring unit 137 are located in the non-display region N3. A pad unit P,on which the terminal portions 132, 134, 136, and 138 are located, islocated in the non-display region N3.

Various circuits, wirings, and terminal portions illustrated in FIG. 8are just illustrative of an example of the non-display regions N1, N2,N3, and N4. In other words, obviously, various circuits, wirings, andterminal portions located in the non-display regions N1, N2, N3, and N4may have a different locations and configurations from those of FIG. 7.

Referring back to FIG. 6, the encapsulation member 113 for encapsulatingat least the display region D may be located in the display region D andthe non-display regions N1, N2, N3, and N4. The encapsulation member 113may be an encapsulation thin layer. The encapsulation thin layer mayhave a structure including a plurality of inorganic layers, or may havea structure in which an inorganic layer and an organic layer arealternately stacked.

The flexible display panel 100-B has a thickness (e.g., a predeterminedthickness) T. The thickness T may be obtained by summing up thethickness of the flexible substrate 111, the thickness of the barrierlayer 112, the thickness of the display region D/the non-display regionsN1, N2, N3, and N4, and the thickness of the encapsulation member 113.

Although not shown in FIG. 6, a protective film may be further locatedon the flexible substrate 111 and/or the encapsulation member 113. Inthis regard, the thickness T of the flexible display panel 100-B may belarger than that of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view illustrating a method of manufacturing theflexible display panel 100 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 9, first, a flexible display panel 100-B beforenon-display regions N1 and N3 are folded is bent to constitute aflexible display panel 100′ including a curved surface that has acurvature radius (e.g., a predetermined curvature radius) in operation(A). Then, the non-display regions N1 and N3 on upper and lower sides ofa display region D are folded in a direction opposite to a direction inwhich the display region D is displayed, thereby manufacturing theflexible display panel 100 according to the present embodiment inoperation (B). Obviously, the order of operations (A) and (B) may beswitched.

FIG. 10 illustrates the relationship between an inner curvature radiusof a border region and a width of non-display regions recognized by auser.

Referring to FIG. 10, a border region B that has a curved surface (e.g.,a predetermined curved surface) is formed between a display region D(e.g., first region I) and a non-display region N3 (e.g., second regionII). The border region B is formed as a curved surface that has acurvature radius (e.g., a predetermined curvature radius) R₂ or R₃.

When the curvature radius of the border region B is R₂, a width W₂ ofthe non-display region N3 recognized by the user is smaller than a widthW₃ of the non-display region N3 recognized by the user, whichcorresponds to a curvature radius of R3. In other words, as thecurvature radius of the border region B decreases, the width of thenon-display region N3 recognized by the user decreases. Thus, thecurvature radius of the border region B may be as small as possible. Inother words, as the curvature radius of the border region B increases(R₃>R₂), the width W₃ of the non-display region N3 recognized by theuser increases (W₃>W₂).

The inner curvature radius R of the portion in which the display regionD and the non-display region N3 are folded may be between 0.01 mm and 10mm according to embodiments of the present invention. When the innercurvature radius of the portion is less than 0.01 mm, due to bendingstress, the flexible display panel 100 may not be maintained in a foldedstate, and when the inner curvature radius of the portion is greaterthan 10 mm, the width W₃ of the non-display region N3 increases. Inparticular, in the case of a small display apparatus, the range of thecurvature radius may be selected as being less than 1 mm so that thewidth W₃ of the non-display region N3 recognized by the user may befurther decreased.

In the present embodiment, the non-display region N3 of the secondregion II extends in the border region B. However, the present inventionis not limited thereto.

For example, the display region D of the first region I may extend inthe border region B. In this regard, when the user sees the flexibledisplay panel 100 folded from the front of the display region D, a widthof the non-display region N3 recognized by the user may be nearly 0. Inthis case, the user may recognize that the non-display region N3 may bealmost borderless.

Both the display region D of the first region I and the non-displayregion N3 of the second region II may be located in the border region B.In this case, a display region formed in the border region B may beformed by extending the display region D of the first region I, and anon-display region formed in the border region B may be formed byextending the non-display region N3 of the second region II.

In the case of the flexible display panel 100 of FIG. 1, the non-displayregions N1 and N3 on sides of the display region D are folded. However,the present invention is not limited thereto. In other words, the spiritand scope of the present invention also applies to a case where anysuitable one or more of the non-display regions N1, N2, N3, and N4 arefolded.

FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a flexible display panel100-1 according to a modified example of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 11, the non-display region N3 of the flexible displaypanel 100 of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, in which the pad unitP is located, is again folded, and is folded towards an inside of theflexible display panel 100-1.

Because an external driver has to be installed at the pad unit P, or aconnector C has to be coupled to the pad unit P, when the externaldriver is installed at, or the connector C is coupled to, the pad unit Pin the state of FIG. 1, the width of the non-display region N1recognized by the user may be increased.

However, when, as in the present modified example, a region N32 of thenon-display region N3 in which the pad unit P is located is furtherfolded towards the inside of the flexible display panel 100-1, theexternal driver or the connector C is located inside the flexibledisplay panel 100-1 so that the width of the non-display region N3recognized by the user is not changed.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible display panel-integratedtouch panel 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible display panel-integratedtouch panel 200-B before non-display regions N1 and N3 of the flexibledisplay panel-integrated touch panel 200 illustrated in FIG. 12 arefolded, and FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the flexibledisplay panel-integrated touch panel 200-B illustrated in FIG. 13.

Hereinafter, the present embodiment is described with regard to thedifferences to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 12, the flexible display panel-integrated touch panel200 according to the present embodiment of the present invention isconstituted by attaching a touch panel 140 to the flexible display panel100 illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, the touch panel 140 includes a touchregion T and wiring regions T1, T2, T3 and T4 outside the touch regionT. The touch panel 140 according to the present embodiment may use avariety of touch methods using capacitance overlay, a resistance film,and the like.

A flexible display panel 100-B before non-display regions N1, N2, N3,and N4 are folded includes a display region D and the non-displayregions N1, N2, N3, and N4 outside the display region D.

The touch region T of the touch panel 140 and the display region D ofthe flexible display panel 100-B are aligned with each other so as tocorrespond to each other so that the touch panel 140 and the flexibledisplay panel 100-B are combined with each other.

In the flexible display panel 100-B combined with the touch panel 140,the non-display regions N1 and N3 of the flexible display panel 100-B,which are on right and left sides of the display region D, are folded ina direction opposite to a direction in which the display region Ddisplays an image to the user. As a result, the flexible displaypanel-integrated touch panel 200 illustrated in FIG. 12 is constituted.

Because the non-display regions N1 and N3 of the flexible display panel100-B and the wiring regions T1 and T3 of the touch panel 140 are foldedin the direction (rear sheet) opposite to the direction (front sheet) inwhich the display region D is displayed, when the user sees the flexibledisplay panel-integrated touch panel 200 from the front of the displayregion D, the user recognizes that a width W₄ of the non-display regionsN1 and N3 as a border on two opposing sides of (e.g., that surrounds theright and left sides of) the display region D.

As described above, because the width W₄ at which the non-displayregions N1 and N3 are folded becomes much smaller than an original widthW₀ before the non-display regions N1 and N3 are folded, the userrecognizes that the border of the display region D formed by thenon-display regions N1 and N3 is significantly decreased in size.

Although the flexible display panel 100-B of the embodiment illustratedin FIG. 1 is shown in the drawings described above, the presentinvention is not limited thereto.

FIGS. 15 and 16 are schematic cross-sectional views of an example inwhich the flexible display panel 100 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1is combined with a transparent protection window 150 and a frame orhousing 160 of a display apparatus.

For convenience of explanation, the flexible display panel 100 of theembodiment shown in FIG. 1 is exemplified. However, the presentinvention is not limited thereto and may apply to the flexible displaypanel-integrated touch panel 200 of the embodiment illustrated in FIG.12.

Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, the flexible display panel 100 is attachedto the touch panel 140, and then the non-display region N3 of theflexible display panel 100 is folded, and the flexible display panel 100is bent in such a way that a display region D of the flexible displaypanel 100 is formed as a curved surface.

The flexible display panel 100 that has the touch panel 140 attachedthereto is protected and supported by the transparent protection window150.

The transparent protection window 150 may be attached to the flexibledisplay panel 100 to correspond to a shape of the flexible display panel100, i.e., to correspond to a top surface of the flexible display panel100 on which an image is displayed, and to correspond to a folded shapeof the flexible display panel 100. In other words, the transparentprotection window 150 may be combined with the flexible display panel100 so as to correspond to shapes of the display region D of theflexible display panel 100 and the touch region T of the touch panel140. The transparent protection window 150 has transmittance that allowslight to transmit through a display screen of the flexible display panel100, and has a strength that maintains the shape of a curved shape ofthe flexible display panel 100. Thus, the transparent protection window150 may protect the flexible display panel 100 from external shock orscratches, and may function as a support unit for maintaining the curvedshape of the flexible display panel 100 and/or the touch panel 140.

Obviously, in embodiments of the present invention, the support unit formaintaining the curved shape of the flexible display panel 100 and/orthe touch panel 140 is not limited to the transparent protection window150. In other words, the curved shape of the flexible display panel 100and/or the touch panel 140 may be maintained by the frame or housing 160of a display apparatus as described below. Alternatively, a variety ofother support units may be used.

Although not shown, an adhesive may be injected between the flexibledisplay panel 100 and the transparent protection window 150.

The flexible display panel 100, combined with the transparent protectionwindow 150 and the touch panel 140, is included in a display apparatus.The display apparatus may include the frame or housing 160 forprotecting and supporting the display apparatus. In the presentembodiment, the flexible display panel 100 is attached to a top surfaceof a front case 161 of the housing 160, and the non-display regions N1and N3 described above are folded and seated in an opening 163 betweenthe front case 161 and a lower case 162 of the housing 160 so that thenon-display regions N1 and N3 are prevented from being recognized fromoutside the display apparatus.

The example of FIGS. 15 and 16 are just illustrative of an example inwhich the flexible display panel 100 is combined with the displayapparatus, and various applications may be performed by one of ordinaryskill in the art.

As described above, a flexible display panel having its concave curvedshape maintained by various support units may be integrated with variousdisplay apparatuses, such as TVs, computer monitors, PDAs, smartphones,and the like. Thus, an improved sense of grip or beauty is provided to auser. The ratio of non-display regions to a display region (e.g., theratio of the area of the non-display regions to the area of the displayregion) of the flexible display panel recognized by a user issignificantly decreased so that an enlarged image screen compared toother display apparatuses may be provided.

A display apparatus according to an embodiment described above has thefollowing effects. First, a display region is formed as a curved surfaceso that a sense of beauty and a sense of grip is improved. Second, thedisplay region is formed as a curved surface so that the same field ofview can be obtained with a smaller area than an area in which thedisplay region is formed as a plane. Third, because a non-display regionis hardly recognized (e.g., less pronounced) the display region may berecognized as being borderless.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims. The exemplary embodimentsshould be considered in descriptive sense only and not for purposes oflimitation. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined not by thedetailed description of the invention but by the appended claims andtheir equivalents, and all differences within the scope will beconstrued as being included in the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display apparatus comprising: a flexibledisplay panel comprising: a flexible substrate; a display regiondisposed on a first side of the flexible substrate and facing in a firstdirection; a first flexible non-display region disposed on the firstside of the flexible substrate and disposed outside the display region;a second flexible non-display region disposed on the first side of theflexible substrate and disposed outside the first flexible non-displayregion, the second flexible non-display region facing in a seconddirection different from the first direction; an encapsulation memberencapsulating the display region and at least one of the first andsecond flexible non-display regions; a touch layer disposed on theencapsulation member and comprising a touch region and a touch wiringoutside the touch region; and a pad unit in the second flexiblenon-display region on the first side of the flexible substrate, the padunit overlapping the display region in the first direction, atransparent protection window disposed on the touch layer; and anadhesive layer disposed between the touch layer and the transparentprotection window.
 2. The display apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising: a border region disposed between the display region and thefirst flexible non-display region, the border region displaying animage.
 3. The display apparatus of claim 2, wherein the border regioncomprises at least one light-emitting device.
 4. The display apparatusof claim 3, wherein the light-emitting device comprises a firstelectrode, a second electrode, and an organic light-emitting layerbetween the first electrode and the second electrode.
 5. The displayapparatus of claim 2, wherein the border region has a constant curvatureradius.
 6. The display apparatus of claim 5, wherein the border regionhas a convex display surface.
 7. The display apparatus of claim 1,wherein the display region has a constant curvature radius.
 8. Thedisplay apparatus of claim 7, wherein the display region has a concavedisplay surface.
 9. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein thedisplay region comprises at least one light-emitting device.
 10. Thedisplay apparatus of claim 9, wherein the light-emitting devicecomprises a first electrode, a second electrode, and an organiclight-emitting layer between the first electrode and the secondelectrode.
 11. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein theencapsulation member comprises an organic layer and an inorganic layer.12. The display apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a connectorcoupled with the pad unit, wherein the display region overlaps the padunit and the connector in the first direction.
 13. A display apparatuscomprising: a flexible display panel comprising: a flexible substrate; adisplay region disposed on a first side of the flexible substrate; afirst flexible non-display region disposed on the first side of theflexible substrate and disposed outside the display region; a secondflexible non-display region disposed on the first side of the flexiblesubstrate and disposed outside the first flexible non-display region,the second flexible non-display region overlapping the display region;an encapsulation member encapsulating the display region and at leastone of the first and second flexible non-display regions; a touch layerdisposed on the encapsulation member and comprising a touch region and atouch wiring outside the touch region; and a pad unit in the secondflexible non-display region on the first side of the flexible substrate,the pad unit overlapping the display region, a transparent protectionwindow disposed on the touch layer; and an adhesive layer disposedbetween the touch layer and the transparent protection window.
 14. Thedisplay apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: a border regiondisposed between the display region and the first flexible non-displayregion, the border region displaying an image.
 15. The display apparatusof claim 14, wherein the border region comprises at least onelight-emitting device.
 16. The display apparatus of claim 15, whereinthe light-emitting device comprises a first electrode, a secondelectrode, and an organic light-emitting layer between the firstelectrode and the second electrode.
 17. The display apparatus of claim14, wherein the border region has a constant curvature radius.
 18. Thedisplay apparatus of claim 17, wherein the border region has a convexdisplay surface.
 19. The display apparatus of claim 13, wherein thedisplay region has a constant curvature radius.
 20. The displayapparatus of claim 19, wherein the display region has a concave displaysurface.
 21. The display apparatus of claim 13, wherein the displayregion comprises at least one light-emitting device.
 22. The displayapparatus of claim 21, wherein the light-emitting device comprises afirst electrode, a second electrode, and an organic light-emitting layerbetween the first electrode and the second electrode.
 23. The displayapparatus of claim 13, wherein the encapsulation member comprises anorganic layer and an inorganic layer.
 24. The display apparatus of claim14, further comprising a connector coupled with the pad unit, whereinthe display region overlaps the pad unit and the connector.